DRGW 315 Work Train Photo Freight
A friend of mine, Blake, and I took a trip up to Chama, New Mexico and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for a weekend photo freight featuring the Durango Historical Society's C-18 class, number 315.
The 315 was built in 1895 as the Florence & Cripple Creek #3. The F&CC shut down in 1912 and the engine sat unused until bought by the D&RG in 1917 to help with wartime traffic. The D&RG numbered the engine 425 and it held that number under a reorganization in 1924 numbered it 315. She servered on the D&RGW system as well as being leased on the RGS until being retired to a park in Durango in 1950. In 2000, the Durango Historical Society began a restoration project on the 315 with it completed in 2007. More information on the Durango Historical Society and the 315 can be found on their website at drhs315.org.
Our photo freight consisted a few gondolas to replicate a late, small work train and ran from Antonito, Colorado to the summit at Cumbres on Day 1 and from Cumbres back to Antonito on Day 2.
Day 1 / 2 / 3
Day 4
Day 5 / 6
The 315 was built in 1895 as the Florence & Cripple Creek #3. The F&CC shut down in 1912 and the engine sat unused until bought by the D&RG in 1917 to help with wartime traffic. The D&RG numbered the engine 425 and it held that number under a reorganization in 1924 numbered it 315. She servered on the D&RGW system as well as being leased on the RGS until being retired to a park in Durango in 1950. In 2000, the Durango Historical Society began a restoration project on the 315 with it completed in 2007. More information on the Durango Historical Society and the 315 can be found on their website at drhs315.org.
Our photo freight consisted a few gondolas to replicate a late, small work train and ran from Antonito, Colorado to the summit at Cumbres on Day 1 and from Cumbres back to Antonito on Day 2.
Day 1 / 2 / 3
- Day 1 (Wednesday) - Leave Houston mid day, overnight in Amarillo, Tx
- Day 2 (Thursday) - Drive to Chama, Railfan the regular passenger trains
- Day 3 (Friday) - Railfan the C&TS / regular passenger trains
Day 4
- Day 4 (Saturday) - Ride the Photo Freight Antonito to Cumbres, Impromptu night shoot at the summit
Day 5 / 6
- Day 5 (Sunday) - Ride the Photo Freight Cumbres Summit back to Antonito
- Day 6 (Monday) - Drive back to Houston